KOCH: Other issues are more important

Evan Koch claims the No. 1 concern Kootenai County voters have is a woman’s “right” to choose an abortion.

He claims the second is the spread of “right wing extremism.” If a protected border, low taxes, individual freedom and right to protect one’s self and family are extreme, then call me extremist!

Demonization of the LGBTQ+ community: Thirty-one people came from out of state to disrupt the Pride event in June. They were arrested before they even arrived at the park. Violence is unacceptable, but everyone has the right to assemble and practice their First Amendment rights, just as the Pride folks were doing. Banning books is not the answer. Rather, restrict sensitive material from minors; leave responsibility of access to parents.

We have record inflation and illegal immigration and rampant crime, mostly due to policies enacted by Democrats. Inflation was at 1.2% when Trump left office; it’s now 8.3%. Our southern border was more secure than it had been in decades, with Trump obtaining funding for and building an effective barrier, not only against the illegal immigration, but record amounts of illegal drugs, human trafficking and fentanyl entering our country. The fentanyl alone is a matter of national security; China is poisoning our most precious asset, our children. Biden stopped building the wall and destroyed our energy independence. None of these issues were even mentioned by Mr. Koch. And his issues are not the most important issues of the day? Give me a break. Now that’s extreme.

DAVE SHELDON

Hayden